Ingersoll Fire & Emergency Service personnel are challenged by a number of complex tasks. In order to mitigate these complex tasks the fire fighter’s undergo extensive training. All training is in accordance with the Ontario Firefighter Curriculum, with most of the training provided at our facility. Additional training is received through the Ontario Fire College and outside agencies.

The addition of the training complex has greatly enhanced the quality of training. This allows for a more hands on approach to our training. The complex consists of a 9.14m (30’) training tower, confined space tunnels and a search and rescue building.

An efficient, effective fire service must have thorough and ongoing training for all its members. At any time, personnel may have to handle a variety of emergency situations. That spells out the need for widely varied training scenarios including; vehicle extrication, hazardous materials, defibrillator operations, CPR, first aid, technical rescue and command procedures, as well as the latest firefighting techniques.

Fire Prevention

Ingersoll Fire & Emergency Services conduct regular fire safety inspections on all types of occupancies as defined by the Ontario Building Code. These inspections are carried out under the Fire Code which is a regulation made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. The current 2007 Fire Code (O.Reg. 213/07) came into force on November 21, 2007.

The Fire Code is a set of minimum requirements respecting fire safety within and around existing buildings and facilities. The owner is responsible for complying with the Fire Code, except where otherwise specified. The municipal fire department enforces the Fire Code.

The publication 2007 Fire Code Compendium, which includes the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, the 2007 Fire Code, Appendices and the Fire Code Supplement FCS-1, is available for purchase from Service Ontario online at www.publications.serviceontario.ca or by phone at 1-800-668-9938.

Public Education

Ingersoll Fire & Emergency Services actively takes part in public education activities. We visit local schools and promote the Risk Watch programs, Learn Not To Burn and Older And Wiser for our Senior Citizens. The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C) is a program for children and adolescences who have played with fire or have intentionally set fires. We also provide fire extinguisher training to various industrial and commercial businesses as well as any other interested organization. If you have any questions please call 519-485-3910 between 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas- it's the law! Failure to comply with the fire code smoke alarm requirements could result in a ticket of $235, or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for Corporations.

Homeowners

It is the responsibility of homeowners to install and maintain smoke alarms on every storey of their home and outside sleeping areas.

Landlords

It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure their rental properties comply with the law. We strongly encourage landlords to use our smoke alarm checklists to keep a record of all maintenance work done on smoke alarms.

Tenants

If you are a tenant of a rental property and do not have the required number of smoke alarms, contact your landlord immediately. It is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with the alarm in any way.

When installing smoke alarms, refer to the manufacturers instructions for information about correct placement. Test your smoke alarms every month using the test button. Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, and whenever the low-battery warning chirps. Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace smoke alarms with new ones if they are more than ten years old. Steam from the shower or cooking in the oven, stove or toaster can cause smoke alarms to activate. Do not remove the battery. Instead, try moving the alarm to a different location, or purchase a smoke alarm with a hush feature that will temporarily silence the alarm. For further information about dealing with nuisance alarms, visit the OFM website.

Which Smoke Alarm Is Better? Photelectric vs. Ionization

The two types operate on different principles and therefore may respond differently to various conditions. Ionization models are best suited for rooms that contain highly combustible materials that can create flaming fires. These types of materials include flammable liquids, newspapers, and paint cleaning solutions. Photoelectric models are best suited for living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. This is because these rooms often contain large pieces of furniture, such as sofas, chairs, mattresses, counter tops, etc. which will burn slowly and create more smoldering smoke than flames. As noted at one manufacturer website, “It's impossible to say one sensor -- photo or ion -- is universally better at detecting all types of fires. Why? Because both sensors are designed to respond to combustion particles produced by smoldering or flaming fires, and because fires themselves are different. The combustion particles produced will vary depending on what starts the fire(matches, electrical fire, etc.) and what burns (paper, fabric, wood).”

Here are a few tips that I would like to share with you in an effort to make things a little safer for you. If you have any questions feel free to call us at 519-485-3910.

Flooding is a significant natural hazard in Ontario that can happen at any time. Heavy rains, rapid snowmelt, spring break-up and ice jams, wind-related storm surges across large lakes or the failure of dams can all cause floods. Stay away from moving water and never trust that ice is solid at times when the temperatures are warm.

Fire Safety

The Ingersoll Fire & Emergency Services offer the following fire safety tips if power outages occur during a flood:

If using candles, place them in a secure holder and cover with a glass chimney, away from children and pets.

Make sure electric stove elements and small appliances are OFF or unplugged to prevent fires from occurring when the electricity is restored.

Propane and charcoal barbecues are for outdoor use only. Do not bring them inside.

Make sure your home has battery-operated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Electrically-connected smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms will not work when the power is out unless they have battery back-ups.

Use only portable space heaters that have been designed for indoor use. Provide adequate ventilation and refuel the heater outside, when required.

Portable generators should only be used outdoors and carefully located to ensure that exhaust fumes do not enter the home.